Telegraph-pole



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. e; LIPPINGOTT.

l TBLEGRAPHPOLE.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' JfE. LIPPINCOTT.

A TBLBGRAPH POLE. No. 349,049. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JASON E. LIPPINCOTT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TELEGRAPH-POLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,049, datedSeptember 14, 1886.

Application filed February 8, 1F86. Serial No. 191,134. (No model.)

To alb whom, .it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAsoN E. LIPPINCOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Telegraph-Poles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to telegraph-poles and similar structures whichhave heretofore usually been constructed of wood, and are thereforesubject to-many objections on account of weight, bulk, and cost, besidesthe deterioration ofthe quality of the material through exposure toweather.

The object of my invention is to produce structure of iron for thispurpose which shall be Strong, durable, light, and economical in cost,and by its form and construction be less exposed to lateral strains dueto winds, and which, by the nature of its constructive materials andmode of bracing between its integral parts, can be made at the shop insections and readily transported to and put together at the desiredlocality.

To these ends my invention consists in the Structure hereinafter morefully described and illustrated.

`In the drawings herewith, Figure l is ageneral elevation of my improvedtelegraph-pole complete; Fig. 2, a partially-sectional elevation, on anenlarged scale, of the cast-iron base, showing the mode of socketing theupper part to the base; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of one of thebracing-joints, showing the construction in detail; Fig. EL, a plan viewof one of the intermediate horizontal braces,with corresponding,verticalsection of same. Fig.4

5 is a detail view in horizontal section, showing the attachment of theline-Wire supports; Fig. 6, a detail view in vertical section, showingthemode of attaching the mounting-cleats; Fig. 7, a horizontal sectionshowing a moditied construction of the horizontal bracing; Fig. 8, ahorizontal cross-section of the castiron foot; Fig. 9, a detail sideelevation showing constructive modifications of the vertical bracing;Fig. 10 is a detail plan and sideelevation of a modification in theconstruction and mode of applying the foot-rests.

Referring now -to the drawings, Fig. 1, the general features of thestructure are, first,a preferably cast-iron foot or base, A, to be rmlyembedded in the earth as a support for the entire structure; second, asystem of, preferabl y, four uprights,B, consisting of Wroughtirontubing, slight-ly converging toward the top; third, systems of bracingO, combining horizontally and vertically diagonal braces at the jointsof successive vsections of tubing; fourth, systems of horizontal bracingD at intei-mediate points between the main braces, and, iifth, thecleats E, for suspending linewires. These features I will describe inthe order named, and, incidentally, the mode of joining separatesections to constitute the completed structure.

First. The cast-iron base A, Figs. V1, 2, 8, proportioned in size andstrength to the height and Weight of the ultimate structure, consists ofthree or more vertical flanges, c', united centrally and terminatingabove iu a cover` ing-plate, et, extending over a horizontal areaembracing the flanges. The latter are bounded by or terminate outwardlyin thickened fillets ,extending vertically the entire length of theilanges. In the fillets c, at their upper ends and extending through thecoveringplate a2, are cast short sections of wroughtiron tubing, b,extending into the fillets axially far enough to give a perfectly 'firmand rigid seat, and sufficient-ly above the covering-plate to permit thetubes to be extended by sections of tubing, b, united thereto by theusual union collars, b', threaded upon the exterior surfaces of theabutting tubes. Before being placed in the ground in actual use theentire base A may be suitably coated with preservative material toprevent rusting or de terioration.

Second. The systems of uprightsBmay consist of three, four, or moretubes arranged vertically in corresponding radial positions. I prefer touse four asa medium number. These sections are formed of the ordinarywroughtirou or drawn tubes, in length as commonly produced-say ten,sixteen, or twenty feet, preferring the latter for poles of fifty tosixty Vfeet in height, as'required in cities, and shorter lengths foruse in the country. The braces in such case may be arranged atapproximate intervals of ten feet. It should also be noted thatlighterand smaller pipe can be employed for the upper sections of the pole thanis used at the bottom. The mode of joining abutting sections of tubingis by means of the unions before referred to.

Third. The system of bracing C, Figs. 1, 3, is constructed as followsTwo horizontal plates, c c, are located at a convenient distance aboveand below the meeting-joint of consecutive sections B, said platesterminating at the corners in sleeves c', which embrace the pipes Z1,and are secured thereto by rivets or otherwise. The plates c may be ofcast-iron, ribbed diagonally upon the upper and lower surfaces, and,together with the intermediate brace, D, may besecured permanently toeach section of tubing B at the place of manufacture, so that sections Bmay be brought complete to the place of erection and united by theunions b. rllhe sleeves c have diagonalsockets c2 formed upon them,threaded for the engagement, when in final position, of short tie-braces1 which are centrally threaded into and secured by a socket-piece, S.The ties t are given sufticient play in the socket-piece to enter beyondthe position of" normal engagement, so that the structure S t can beinserted and the ties t run outward to engage into the sockets c2 afterthe sections B are in position. r[he relative pitch of the engagingthreads at opposite ends of the ties t is preferably made to differ, sothat in setting out the ties a tension is brought upon the samethroughout the series. A bracing structure, S t, is interposed betweeneach two adjacent tubes b, which,

with the upper and lower plates,c, constitutes the system C. Amodification of this construction will be described later.

Fourth. The horizontal braces l), Figs. l andi, are similar, to allintents, to thc plates c, already described, and require no furtherdcscription here.

Fifth. rIhe cleats E, for suspending linewires, Figs. l and 5, are oftheordinary description, and are held upon contiguous pipes b by bolts e,suitably insulated by gutta-per cha coverings c, and the usualfoot-rests, d, Fig. G, are secured upon the pipes b at proper intervalsat opposite sides ofthe general structure.

In Figs. 7 andflI have showna modified construction, i ntendcd,prin1arily,to be substituted for the cast-iron plates c D, and also as aprinciple of construction to avoid the necessity of perforating thepipes b, as for the attachment of footrests 1. In thisI employ a splitclamp or sleeve, F, extended at the split side into a conical lug,f,flanked at either side by annular sockets for the reception of the endsof tubular struts F, the sockets being (where the quadruple system oftubes B is used) separated by an angle of forty-five degrees with thelugj' intervening in the same horizontal plane. The exterior' conicalsurface of the split lngf is threaded for the reception of acorrespondingly-formed union oreap, g, engaging saidlug, with a tiered,h, extending diagonally across to a corresponding clamp. Theconstruction and engagement of the cap is such as to close the clampfirmly around the tube b, and at the same time draw the tic 7lr intotension and compress the struts F. As thus described, this constructioncan be used as a substitute for the plates D. It can also be embodied inthe main braces C by adding lugs t' upon the out-side ofthe clamp, andinserting the diagonal tie-rods L exteriorly to the structure, Fig. t).

XVhere the split clamp is used for the footrests, the construction is asindicated in Fig. l0, having a bracket, m, extending laterally from asplit sleeve, n, provided with lugs at the rear for the engagement of afasteningbol t, o. Foot-rests thus constructed may be applied andadjusted or readjusted to any position verA tically or radially bymanipulating the setscrew o.

I am aware that signal-posts, telegraph-posts, skeleton towers,and likestructures have heretofore been made of iron bars and pipes braced invarious ways other than I have shown, and I do not therefore claim suchstructure, broadly.

I claim as my .invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited Statcs 1. A telegraph-pole or similar structure embodying incombination a base, A, to rest in the earth, and a superstructure, l5,composed of three or more sets of substantially continuouswrought-irontubes bound together at section joints by a system ofhorizontal and vertical braces, C, and at intermediate points by asystem of horizontal braces, l), substantially as set forth.

2. In a telegraph-pole or similar strnctlue composed of a system ofvertical tubes, the brace system G,embodying horizontal and verticaldiagonal braces arranged at and covering the meeting-joint betweenconsecutive sections of the structure, substantially as set forth.

3. .lhe combination, in a tubular structure of the character described,of' the tubes b, abutted together and secured by unions b, thehorizontal braces c, and the diagonally-arranged tic-rods t, centered ina socket-piece, S,substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

et. In a tubular structure of the character described,the split clampsF,tierods screw caps g, and strut-braces F, combined and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In a tubular structure of the character described, the adjustable clampF, provided with the split lugf, with conical threaded outer surfacesfor the engagement of the cap y, securingalso the union tie-rods, andthe exterior ings, t' t', for the engagement of the outer tierods,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesscs.

XVitncsses:

(l. D. Kean, L. M. Hosea.

IOO

IZO

